A New Cinderella- Page 13

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 2/8/14 at 8:02pm

I don't think Laura's comments about the Brandy version are especially noteworthy. I have a feeling that Brandy nor the late Whitney Houston care what anyone on that panel thinks. We all know and love Laura and Co., but they are virtually unknown to the former. Even if it was a dig, it's pointless because it's never going to reach the people it was directed toward.

Updated On: 2/8/14 at 08:02 PM

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 2/8/14 at 8:21pm

It was also the pop influence of the film that spawned the idea of a national tour that was headed up by Andrew Lippa, Tom Briggs, and Gabriel Barre. While I do find that adaption to be thin in some places, I do believe there were some stronger moments than what is currently playing on Broadway. I am surprised several people have chosen not to acknowledge that production.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 2/8/14 at 8:24pm

Is there a recording for that production, Johnny? I know there was a recording done of the Lea Salonga production, but is that similar to the production you are referencing?

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 2/8/14 at 8:38pm

Sadly a recording does not exist. The only video that I know of are these clips from when papermill did it. Andrew Lippa's pop orchestrations were dropped, but the arrangements are still in use. It was a direct adaption of the 1997 teleplay. 13 years ago I think it could've played broadway and done well.
Cinderella Updated On: 2/8/14 at 08:38 PM

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 2/9/14 at 10:34pm

Carly Rae is on "LIVE! With Kelly and Michael" Wednesday to promote the show, just an FYI.


Ps. Not to thread jack but Alan Cumming is on as well to talk about "Cabaret", and Denzel Washington is on Thursday to talk about "Raisin".

Updated On: 2/9/14 at 10:34 PM

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/11/14 at 11:32pm

Since Rocky was canceled tonight I decided to go across the street and check in on the new cast at the Broadway.

Why is everyone talking about Carly Rae and Fran Drescher when the real new star of the show is Joe Carroll! His Prince Topher is sweet, funny and well-sung. I liked him more than Santino and it was the most developed I have ever felt that character. He had an easy chemistry with Carly, which greatly helped her performance too.

As for Drescher: her voice was completely shot. She sounded like Joan Rivers and her singing voice evoked a less lyrical Hermione Gingold. She's simply playing a mixture of herself and the Nanny, which is what the audience wanted to see anyway. She even incorporates her signature laughter into the show. The good news is that she's having a blast and really livens up the proceedings.

Carly Rae gets off to quite a shaky start. Her singing voice is not ideal for this music; it's thin/heavily amplified, breathy and she sings her vowels with a poppy twang. In My Own Little Corner was rough, but once she got through it she seemed to settle into the role and it was her acting that finally won me over rather than her singing. She is very game for trying anything and have a nice presence onstage. She lets down the score a bit, but she sings on pitch and it's not enough to ruin the numbers or anything.

Victoria Clark was a true pro tonight. So alive and vivacious. I know Drescher is the star replacement, but come on. You shouldn't have her bow after Victoria Clark.

The show still is what it is, and I will never fully embrace this new book. DCB's book was met with tepid laughter from the few who were in theater tonight. The rear mezz has been curtained off and the rest of the mezz was a ghost town. I don't know how much longer this one is going to be around.

Overall it felt a little messy, but that quality began to play its favor, like you were rooting for the scrappy team to win the little league game.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 12:12am

"The only video that I know of are these clips from when papermill did it."

There is also video from the non-Equity tour that went out in the 2002-2003 season. I don't think it's online anywhere though. The Cinderella videos on Gabe Barre's website actually were from the non-Equity tour at one point. I'm curious as to why the videos were swapped out for the Papermill cast.

In addition to the different orchestrations at Papermill there do seem to be at least a few small changes to the arrangements. "Lovely Night" I can say with almost absolute certainty is different in the video there than what was on the tour, though not a major rewrite, just some tweaks, mainly in the little section the mice pop up to sing.

[ilikebroadwaythings1]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 12:41am

YES YES. Sorry, I saw the pictures posted here and other sites, and it looked like Fran took her bow after Vicki, and I assumed it was just for opening night. So glad it angered someone else as well. I understand that Fran is the "celebrity" but come on, Victoria Clark!! I wonder when she'll leave the production/when her contract is up. As well as Ann Harada.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 10:20am

I thought she was great on "LIVE!" this morning, very cute and passionate about the show.

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 2:01pm

I also saw the show last night. It was my first time seeing the production and it was a mixed bag for me. I am not a fairy tale type of guy, but my friend and I wanted to see Fran.
If you are looking for Fran's trademark persona, she doesn't disappoint. She basically played a bitchier version of Fran Fine, and that's what the audience wanted. Her voice was very raspy, but thankfully she didn't have to sing much. It was evident that she reached her comfort level in act two because those were her strongest scenes.

Carly has a weak and weightless singing voice. But she managed to sing in tune, while ultimately turning in a pleasant but somewhat forgettable performance.

Joe Carroll gave another forgettable performance, in my opinion. He sang many notes out of tune in act 1, but fortunately redeemed himself vocally in act 2.

Victoria Clark was simply stunning. She is always a joy and pleasure to watch on stage.

The audience was frustrating.
Multiple people were taking pictures throughout the show. And the crinkling of wrappers and shaking of ice was at an all time high. It was all very annoying. I only heard a child speak out loud once the entire show. It was the adults being disrespectful as usual.

Overall, it was a pleasant evening, but nothing to write home about.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 2:38pm

ljay- Since it was your first time seeing it, the Step-Mother and Step-Sisters had a big trio that was cut during previews, so perhaps that's what was meant when it was said that Fran didn't have to sing. (Jean Michel and Gabrielle also had a big soft shoe song and dance number in act two that was cut; the show is really quite a bit different from those early previews.)

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 2:45pm

Oh! Interesting. Also, how significantly did the book change from early previews?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 2:58pm

The show was running about 2 hours and 45 minutes during previews. The ending was trimmed a lot. They actually showed the election happening. There was a tie between Jean Michel and Sebastian, and Madame had the deciding vote. That was where the major changes happened. I don't think much else was changed besides cutting a couple songs.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 3:12pm

The book was changed rather extensively. Besides the cut song and the election which bwayphreak mentioned there was a scene at the soup kitchen when Cinderella and Topher showed up to see how the other half lives. It was very We'd Like to Thank You Herbert Hoover. Cinderella had some cheesy line about remembering that her book talked about democracy and she read about passage about free elections. It was ludicrous. They did hold the elections and Madame hilarious went against her old friend Sebastian?!

Jean Michel used to be a lot angrier too.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 3:47pm

Didn't Cinderella change back into her rags to go to the soup kitchen too? Then back into the gold gown for Do I Love You... ? I can't remember

[darreyl102]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 4:05pm

Just posted A Lovely Night from their first show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csOTM1mBwNI

[Musical Master]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 4:23pm

Carly and Fran does a good job from what I'm hearing, and it seems that Fran has this "faux dignified" thing going for her, it's funny.

I'm glad that Carly is not as hated as a good number of people have been spewing before they saw her, and Fran is getting some very nice notices by becoming a wicked version of Fran Fine from The Nanny.

[Littleshopofcarrie]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 6:57pm

New video!! Show looks great! It's also cool to see Victoria Clarke's understudy in the video!
Video

[darreyl102]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 10:54pm

Some of Fran’s Line deliveries are kinda funky, but it was her first night. A lot of the lines that Harriet Harris was able to get laughs with fell flat. In fact, a lot of Madame’s lines aren’t funny on paper, but out of Harriet’s mouth, they were. I will reserve real judgment for when I see her myself.

[Emma White]

Posted: 2/16/14 at 3:57pm

"New video!! Show looks great! It's also cool to see Victoria Clarke's understudy in the video!"

Yeah, I noticed that Jill Abramowitz is Marie in the video (at least in the second clip of her, I can't really tell in the first). They probably shot it February 6th, when I saw it, and Victoria was out.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/16/14 at 4:03pm

I love how they have no footage of Carly Rae Jepsen singing in the new footage.

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 2/16/14 at 6:00pm

They didn't of Laura either.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/16/14 at 9:43pm

I agree with Whizzer's review...Joe Carroll was great! But I thought everything about this show was amazing.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 2:21pm

So, once again, we may have to push Cinderella: This time for June/July. I'm just wondering (I'm starting to warm up about the thought of seeing CRJ): Is there any inside rumors/speculation of who will replace Carly Rae Jepsen and Fran Dreschuer after June 8th?

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 3:02pm

I did hear a rumor that they had a another pop star in mind for Ella but she refused to audition. I have no idea who it might have been. I also would assume that it was just in the event that CRJ and Fran won't extend, because they are doing a really good job of selling tickets and I'm sure that the pruducers would love for them to stay throughout the summer. This week's gross (which will post tomorrow) is going to be huge, as I heard it has almost sold out every show. So good for them.